Friday, 1 February 2013

In what could be just enough of an opening for equality advocates to seize, a poll released Thursday showed Minnesota voters narrowly supporting same-sex marriage.�

According to the latest survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling, 47 percent of Minnesota voters favor making same-sex marriage legal compared with 45 percent who are opposed. In response to a separate question, 43 percent said they support legally permitting marriage for same-sex couples while 32 percent said they should be allowed to form civil unions but not marry. Only 23 percent said same-sex couples should receive no legal recognition.�

Combined with other factors, polling numbers like that could provide fertile ground for advocates to pursue a measure that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. In November, a slim majority of Minnesota voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. The same election ushered in a new Democratic majority in the state legislature, while a Democrat (Mark Dayton) already resides in the governor's mansion.�

“Minnesota’s marriage equality advocates are in a strong starting position if they decide to push to allow gay marriage,” wrote Dean Debnam, president of PPP, in the poll's corresponding memo.